The Second Death of Locke: Characters, spice, review, triggers

Written By Esta Pinto

The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino is a gothic romantic fantasy that blends romance, grief, and the supernatural into something both beautiful and unsettling. 

In this review and guide, I’ve covered the characters, the spice levels, spicy chapters, tropes and trigger warnings. Whether you’re here to decide if this book is for you, or you’ve already finished and need someone to scream about the agonising yearning in this, then come join the club.

Happy reading friends!

 

The Second Death of Locke synopsis.

Love. Loyalty. Sacrifice.

Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier.

She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier's to use. Grey would do anything for Kier - be anything for him - if he would only ask.

When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into the dangerous heart of their nation's war, Grey and Kier will need to decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their secret.

For Grey is no ordinary magical well, but heir to the lost island of Locke - the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her.

The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy and about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and The Six Deaths of the Saint.

Get The Second Death of Locke here.

 

The Second Death of Locke characters.

Main characters.

The Second Death of Locke is told in third-person narrative from the alternating dual perspectives of:

  • Female main character, Grey Flynn; and 

  • Main male character, Kiernan Seward.

Hand Captain Grey Flynn, aka Grey.

Art shared by author @toribovalino via Instagram. Artist: @jariarambaran

Grey Flynn has always been great at fading into the background with her primary role to ensure that her mage, Kier Seward remains whole and hale and has access to all the magic he needs, as his well of magic. But Grey is no ordinary magic well. She has family secrets. And secrets have a way of clawing their way to the surface.

Captain Kiernan Seward, aka Kier.

Art shared by author @toribovalino via Instagram. Artist: @jariarambaran

Kiernan Trevaine Seward is the male main character, a mage, partnered with Hand Captain Grey Flynn, his childhood best friend. And he’s down bad.

Supporting and minor characters.

  • Eron Fastria

  • Ola Et-Kiltar 

  • Brit Wyvern

  • Sela aka Wilisela Naude

  • Leonie

  • Master Klara Attis

  • Mare Concord

  • Cleoc

  • Commander Reggin

  • Alma (Grey’s mother)

  • Isaak (Grey’s father)

  • Severin (Grey’s brother)

  • Vearn Torrin aka Scaelas

  • Captain Pickett

  • Lieutenant Chappelle

  • Commander Dainridge 

  • Ikaaron

  • Yearna

  • Kearns

  • Pacet

  • Imarta Flynn

  • Pia

  • Laurella

  • Pigeon (horse)

  • Lady Polenna

  • Mika

  • Kitalma (patron goddess of Locke)

  • Nahir

  • Tress

  • Rabbit

Mentioned characters (off-page).

  • Lotrain Seward (Kier’s brother)

  • Pellatisa Locke

  • Retark

  • Iowain

  • Wren Locke Teinek

  • Uncle Pol

 

Review: The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino.

View my review and follow me on GoodReads here.

My rating: ★★★★★

  • Spice level: 🌶

  • 1/5, mild open door spice.

Move over Ross & Rachel, Cher & Josh, Harry & Sally. Grey & Kier are like:

“I’d die for you.”

“Cool, me too.”

… “Anyway, guess we’re just friends.”

The yearning with these two stubborn magical medieval jerks who think it would be easier to die for one another than admit they’re in love starts immediately, right from chapter one. I wish we’d had a dual POV, because half the time I could hear Kier pining off the page and I really wanted to get inside his brain too. But even from Grey’s one POV, the way Kier worships her is outrageous.

But TSDOL goes beyond romantic love.

It’s about all kinds of love from platonic devotion to familial and found family. The ways we protect and hold onto each other. There’s banter and wit, grief and pain, enveloped in some kind of Scottish-inspired world of towering cliffs, forests, wild oceans and obsidian isles. And through it all is a reflection of choice, autonomy and carving your own path even when the world puts impossible expectations on your shoulders.

I laughed, I may have teared-up, I squealed. I had the urge to throw my book every time someone almost confessed their feelings and then didn’t. But it paid off. It broke me and healed me in one go. And I’d do it all again. FRIENDS TO LOVERS DONE RIGHT.

Thank you so much to Hachette Australia & New Zealand & NetGalley for the ARC!

 View my review and follow me on GoodReads here. I chat about books a lot.

 

TSDOL FAQs.

SPOILER ALERT:

⚠️ Some answers may spoil TSDOL by V.L. Bovalino/Tori Bovalino if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution. ⚠️

Here are the answers to all your common FAQs.

What are the content and trigger warnings?

  • Violence

  • War

  • Confinement

  • Death

  • Sexual content

  • Gore

  • Kidnapping

  • Grief

  • Gaslighting

  • Medical trauma

  • Injury/injury detail

  • Torture

  • Cursing

Is The Second Death of Locke LGBTIQ+?

Yes The Second Death of Locke is LGBTIQ+. 🏳️‍🌈

  • Female main character, Grey Flynn is bisexual

  • Male main character, Kier, is pansexual

  • The world is queernormative, and the found family has non binary, trans and other queer characters.

What is the age rating for TSDOL?

TSDOL is classified as adult, so ages 18+, due to adult themes. Please also see the trigger and content warnings listed above.

What is Grey Flynn’s full name?

In the Second Death of Locke, Grey Flynn’s full and real name is Greymaryse Pellatisa Carnelion Masidic Locke.

Is there spice in The Second Death of Locke?

Yes there are open door spicy scenes in The Second Death of Locke! They’re not explicit in description though.

Spice level: 🌶

1/5, mild non-explicit open door spice and some fade to black scenes.

What are the spicy chapters in The Second Death of Locke?

  • 19: 🌶️

  • 29: Fade to black, steamy 

  • 31: Non explicit, almost fade to black 

What are the tropes?

The tropes in The Second Death of Locke are:

  • Friends to lovers 💌

  • Yearning 😍

  • Forced proximity 🫂

  • Courtly political intrigue 👑

  • Unique magic system ✨🫀

  • Found family 🥰

  • Hurt/comfort ❤️‍🩹

  • Devotion and betrayal ⚔️

  • Lady knight vibes 🤺

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Esta Pinto
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